Picea bicolor 'Howell's Dwarf Tigertail' - Howell's Dwarf Tiger Tail Spruce

This cultivar forms a mound that can be kept that way with pruning, if central leader is left alone will become a pyramidal tree; unique green foliage with silver blue undersides, violet purple cones are breathtaking; an outstanding focal point

Height: 10 feet. Spread: 10 feet. Sun: full sun. Hardiness zone: 4a.

Ornamental features

Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. The purple fruits are held in abundance in spectacular cones in mid spring. It has attractive green foliage with silvery blue undersides. The needles are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape

Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Recommended for: Accent, Mass Planting, General Garden Use.

Planting and growing

Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.